Posted on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:28am

A Central Coast city didn’t take final action, but its city council made it clear it’s moving towards rejection of controversial plans for a new discount department store.

The Fallas chain has wanted to open a new story in a long vacant Mervyn’s store, at the west end of the Santa Maria Town Center. The Santa Maria Planning Commission approved the proposal for use of the 80,000 plus square foot building, but some people don’t feel its upscale enough to fit in with plans to reinvigorate the area.

The company had already purchased the site. Officials say it would be a store selling upscale brands.

The council voted 3-2 to start the denial process, but basically continued final action until later this summer.